Warrington Wolves v Wakefield Trinity: Willie Poching wary of Wire backlash

HAVING WAITED eight years for a win away to Warrington Wolves, Wakefield Trinity could make it two victories there in eight days.
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Trinity stunned Warrington 38-22 in Super League last Saturday and return to HJ Stadium tomorrow for a Challenge Cup sixth round tie.

The win a week ago was Trinity’s first in nine visits to Warrington since 2014 and coach Willie Poching is expecting a backlash from the under-pressure hosts.

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They are on a three-match losing run and Poching warned: “We are expecting them to be fired up and determined going into this.”

Wakefield Trtinity head coach Willie Poching. Picture: Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com.Wakefield Trtinity head coach Willie Poching. Picture: Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com.
Wakefield Trtinity head coach Willie Poching. Picture: Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com.

He said: “A wounded beast is a dangerous beast so while we went there fully armed last week, we have to be focused and prepared to put in a performance with as much, if not more, energy and effort.

“They will definitely be hurting and they will want to turn that result around.”

But last week’s result was Trinity’s second successive victory and they know, if they play well, they have got what it takes to book a place in the quarter-final draw.

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“It is a weird one when you play a team two weeks consecutively,” Poching added.

Max Jowitt returns to the Wakefield Trinity squad to face Warrington following a two-match suspension. Picture: Tony Johnson.Max Jowitt returns to the Wakefield Trinity squad to face Warrington following a two-match suspension. Picture: Tony Johnson.
Max Jowitt returns to the Wakefield Trinity squad to face Warrington following a two-match suspension. Picture: Tony Johnson.

“We have got to get our game right. There were some things in last week’s game we were a little bit concerned about in the immediate aftermath that we needed to fix up.

“As we’ve reviewed it we’ve tried to work on those areas and polish them up and we want to be even better this weekend. Some of those areas we weren’t so good at were down to them being good, how they defended and the speed at which they try to play the game.”

Max Jowitt has completed a two-match suspension and will return to Trinity’s side today.

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Morgan Escare, brought in on loan to cover the full-back position, has returned to Salford Red Devils, who Trinity play next weekend.

Wakefield are also without winger Tom Johnstone (concussion).

Warrington Wolves: from Ashton, Charnley, Clark, Clark, Cooper, Currie, Davis, Dean, Holmes, King, Longstaff, Magoulias, Mata’utia, Mulhern, Philbin, Robson, Thewlis, Walker, Widdop, Williams, Wrench.

Wakefield Trinity: from Jowitt, Lyne, Miller, Lino, Battye, Hood, Arona, Ashurst, Tanginoa, Pitts, Crowther, Whitbread, Batchelor, Kay, Walker, Aydin, Adebiyi, Bowes, Murphy, Hall Fifita.

Referee: Jack Smith (Wigan).

Kick-off: Tomorrow, 2pm.

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